copyright Bob Hostetler
I pray for wisdom, Lord--in general and specifically. I lack the wisdom to lead your people, as well as the wisdom to grasp the spiritual warfare that so often rages around me. Please show me the things I need to see, teach me the things I need to learn, and supply all that is lacking in my faith and in my wisdom. Without you, apart from you, I know nothing. But I have the mind of Christ; teach me to use that mind, to see with it, to decide with it, to act with it, to rely on it, in Jesus' name, amen.
Save Me From Gluttony
copyright Bob Hostetler
Abba, please save me from gluttony.
Let me say with my actions that my belly is not my god.
Teach me to eat for nourishment and enjoyment,
but not in a futile attempt to fulfill spiritual or emotional needs.
Control my eating today, Lord;
transform me physically by renewing me mentally and spiritually,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Abba, please save me from gluttony.
Let me say with my actions that my belly is not my god.
Teach me to eat for nourishment and enjoyment,
but not in a futile attempt to fulfill spiritual or emotional needs.
Control my eating today, Lord;
transform me physically by renewing me mentally and spiritually,
in Jesus' name, amen.
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.
I Want to Be a Man
copyright Bob Hostetler
Abba, Father, I want to be a man...
...who rises early,
...who eases into the day, thinking of prayer before food, spiritual above physical,
...who works hard, but not frantically,
...who creates, not just functions,
...who eats lightly and healthily,
...who exercises but not slavishly--to be in shape and to be useful, not impressive,
...who knows and expects that unexpected things will happen, and keeps enough margin in his month, week, and day to cope with the unexpected,
...who is confident enough of your pleasure that he doesn't sweat pleasing others,
...who is focused but not myopic,
...who knows how to rest, how to say no, and how to do without,
...who does justly, loves mercy, and walks humbly with you...
Make it so, Lord, please, in Jesus' name, amen.
Abba, Father, I want to be a man...
...who rises early,
...who eases into the day, thinking of prayer before food, spiritual above physical,
...who works hard, but not frantically,
...who creates, not just functions,
...who eats lightly and healthily,
...who exercises but not slavishly--to be in shape and to be useful, not impressive,
...who knows and expects that unexpected things will happen, and keeps enough margin in his month, week, and day to cope with the unexpected,
...who is confident enough of your pleasure that he doesn't sweat pleasing others,
...who is focused but not myopic,
...who knows how to rest, how to say no, and how to do without,
...who does justly, loves mercy, and walks humbly with you...
Make it so, Lord, please, in Jesus' name, amen.
Help My Unbelief
copyright Bob Hostetler
Father, in faith I beseech you for more faith...
more trust in you.
Build me up in my most holy faith,
until I believe wholeheartedly every word you've spoken,
every promise you've given,
everything you say by your Spirit to my spirit.
I believe, Lord; help my unbelief, in Jesus' name, amen.
Father, in faith I beseech you for more faith...
more trust in you.
Build me up in my most holy faith,
until I believe wholeheartedly every word you've spoken,
every promise you've given,
everything you say by your Spirit to my spirit.
I believe, Lord; help my unbelief, in Jesus' name, amen.
My Psalm 9
Bob Hostetler
I will praise you, Lord, with my whole heart;
I will mention your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing my praises to you, O Most High.
When my enemies retreat,
it is you—not me—who causes them to fall and fail.
For you have defended my cause;
you judge justly from your throne.
You have rebuked the heathen,
you have destroyed the wicked,
you have erased their legacy for ever.
I have seen, Lord, that you let your enemies stew in their own juices;
you let their own words and deeds destroy them
and erode their reputations.
But you, Lord, endure for ever;
your throne, your place of judgment, is established.
You judge the world in righteousness,
and you rule its people fairly and faithfully.
You are also a refuge for the oppressed, Lord,
a shelter in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will put their trust in you,
for you never fail those who seek you.
I sing your praises, Lord, in my home, church, and community;
I will openly give you the credit you deserve.
I know that you are my defender; you do not ignore my humble cry.
Have mercy on me, Lord;
focus your gaze on those who cause trouble for me,
and lift me out of their clutches and the need I sometimes feel to defend myself,
so that my deliverance will be clearly your doing,
and my salvation will bring glory to you, not me.
Let the wicked, the hypocritical, the scheming, the resentful,
see their sin and turn from it,
or else be snared in the traps they lay for others.
You, Lord are just in all your works;
the wicked are justly brought down by you.
Let them go down, Lord;
let the fate of all those who ignore you befall them.
But remember the needy,
and let not the hopes of the poor be crushed.
Arise, Lord!
Don’t let silly humans defy you.
Straighten them out; straighten us all.
Let your enemies tremble in fear, Lord,
remind them that you are Sovereign…and they are not. Amen.
I will praise you, Lord, with my whole heart;
I will mention your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing my praises to you, O Most High.
When my enemies retreat,
it is you—not me—who causes them to fall and fail.
For you have defended my cause;
you judge justly from your throne.
You have rebuked the heathen,
you have destroyed the wicked,
you have erased their legacy for ever.
I have seen, Lord, that you let your enemies stew in their own juices;
you let their own words and deeds destroy them
and erode their reputations.
But you, Lord, endure for ever;
your throne, your place of judgment, is established.
You judge the world in righteousness,
and you rule its people fairly and faithfully.
You are also a refuge for the oppressed, Lord,
a shelter in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will put their trust in you,
for you never fail those who seek you.
I sing your praises, Lord, in my home, church, and community;
I will openly give you the credit you deserve.
I know that you are my defender; you do not ignore my humble cry.
Have mercy on me, Lord;
focus your gaze on those who cause trouble for me,
and lift me out of their clutches and the need I sometimes feel to defend myself,
so that my deliverance will be clearly your doing,
and my salvation will bring glory to you, not me.
Let the wicked, the hypocritical, the scheming, the resentful,
see their sin and turn from it,
or else be snared in the traps they lay for others.
You, Lord are just in all your works;
the wicked are justly brought down by you.
Let them go down, Lord;
let the fate of all those who ignore you befall them.
But remember the needy,
and let not the hopes of the poor be crushed.
Arise, Lord!
Don’t let silly humans defy you.
Straighten them out; straighten us all.
Let your enemies tremble in fear, Lord,
remind them that you are Sovereign…and they are not. Amen.
Bubbles in the Wind
copyright Bob Hostetler
Sometimes, Lord, my faith seems so fragile.
Like bubbles in the wind.
They sparkle with transparent color
and wobble in the wind,
frail and fine.
I want my faith to be strong.
Solid.
Firm.
I want to feel in control.
But then I remember
it’s their delicate weakness
and their utter surrender to the breeze
that allow bubbles in the wind to fly.
Sometimes, Lord, my faith seems so fragile.
Like bubbles in the wind.
They sparkle with transparent color
and wobble in the wind,
frail and fine.
I want my faith to be strong.
Solid.
Firm.
I want to feel in control.
But then I remember
it’s their delicate weakness
and their utter surrender to the breeze
that allow bubbles in the wind to fly.
Foucald's Prayer of Abandonment
by Charles de Foucald
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures--
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures--
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
For Evils that Never Happened
copyright Bob Hostetler
Thank you, Lord, that much evil that could have happened to me today didn't.
Thank you that I didn't run out of gas,
that I didn't get a ticket or a toothache.
Thank you that I didn't stub my toe or bite my tongue.
Thank you that I didn't hurt a friend or a loved one...or anyone.
Thank you that I didn't trip and fall,
that I didn't lose my wallet,
that I didn't lose my voice,
that I didn't lose my job,
that I didn't lose my health,
that I didn't lose my wife,
that I didn't lose my children,
that I didn't lose my mind...yet.
Thank you that I didn't fall into conscious, willful sin.
Thank you that I didn't neglect you in prayer.
In this and in everything, Lord, I give thanks, in Jesus' name, amen.
Thank you, Lord, that much evil that could have happened to me today didn't.
Thank you that I didn't run out of gas,
that I didn't get a ticket or a toothache.
Thank you that I didn't stub my toe or bite my tongue.
Thank you that I didn't hurt a friend or a loved one...or anyone.
Thank you that I didn't trip and fall,
that I didn't lose my wallet,
that I didn't lose my voice,
that I didn't lose my job,
that I didn't lose my health,
that I didn't lose my wife,
that I didn't lose my children,
that I didn't lose my mind...yet.
Thank you that I didn't fall into conscious, willful sin.
Thank you that I didn't neglect you in prayer.
In this and in everything, Lord, I give thanks, in Jesus' name, amen.
My Psalm 8
Bob Hostetler
O Adonai my Lord, how incredible is your name
in all this sphere, throughout nature;
everywhere I look I see your signature!
You have painted your glory in the star-speckled skies;
your praise even gurgles in the mouths of newborns and children,
while your hands clamp shut lions’ mouths,
and your works leave your enemies speechless.
I don’t spend enough time outdoors these days, God,
but when I do I am struck by the majesty of your heavens,
the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,
which you have hung in place.
It awes me, confronts me with my littleness.
Yet you made us humans to be like you,
in your image,
and have crowned us with glory and honor.
You made us stewards over the works of your hands
and put all things under our feet:
sheep and cattle, and the beasts of the field;
the birds, the fish, and even crabs and lobsters, for crying out loud.
O Adonai my Lord, how incredible is your name
in all this sphere, throughout nature;
everywhere I look I see your signature!
O Adonai my Lord, how incredible is your name
in all this sphere, throughout nature;
everywhere I look I see your signature!
You have painted your glory in the star-speckled skies;
your praise even gurgles in the mouths of newborns and children,
while your hands clamp shut lions’ mouths,
and your works leave your enemies speechless.
I don’t spend enough time outdoors these days, God,
but when I do I am struck by the majesty of your heavens,
the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,
which you have hung in place.
It awes me, confronts me with my littleness.
Yet you made us humans to be like you,
in your image,
and have crowned us with glory and honor.
You made us stewards over the works of your hands
and put all things under our feet:
sheep and cattle, and the beasts of the field;
the birds, the fish, and even crabs and lobsters, for crying out loud.
O Adonai my Lord, how incredible is your name
in all this sphere, throughout nature;
everywhere I look I see your signature!
Tiny Praise from a Tiny Soul
copyright Bob Hostetler
I praise you, Blessed God, King of the universe,
who grants me breath and life and health,
who lifts me up when I am down,
who shows infinitely more mercy to this wretched sinner than I deserve,
who holds me and my family in the palm of your hand,
who has given me a meaningful and rewarding vocation (or two),
who forgives, forbears,
understands, undergirds,
upholds, uplifts,
refines, refreshes,
overwhelms, and overflows
my poor, tiny, undeserving soul.
I praise you, Blessed God, King of the universe.
I praise you, Blessed God, King of the universe,
who grants me breath and life and health,
who lifts me up when I am down,
who shows infinitely more mercy to this wretched sinner than I deserve,
who holds me and my family in the palm of your hand,
who has given me a meaningful and rewarding vocation (or two),
who forgives, forbears,
understands, undergirds,
upholds, uplifts,
refines, refreshes,
overwhelms, and overflows
my poor, tiny, undeserving soul.
I praise you, Blessed God, King of the universe.
Thanks for Weaknesses
copyright Bob Hostetler
God, I give thanks to you for my every weakness, fault, failing, and imperfection--
my pride and "need" to be right,
my perfectionism,
my need for security,
my obsessive-compulsive nature,
my tendency to lust and gluttony,
my impatience,
my difficulty in listening to others,
my rude tendency to interrupt,
my leanings to self-pity,
my greed,
my foolishness,
my cluelessness,
my wont to act precipitously,
my people-pleasing ways,
my reluctance to confront and speak truth--
I accept these (and oh, so many, many more) as a favor from you and a means of your working your gracious will in my life; open doors for me to learn humility and dependence on you; reminders that you are far from done with me, and have not given up on me; and opportunities for you to show yourself strong in and through my weakness; for all of which I am grateful, in Jesus' name, amen.
God, I give thanks to you for my every weakness, fault, failing, and imperfection--
my pride and "need" to be right,
my perfectionism,
my need for security,
my obsessive-compulsive nature,
my tendency to lust and gluttony,
my impatience,
my difficulty in listening to others,
my rude tendency to interrupt,
my leanings to self-pity,
my greed,
my foolishness,
my cluelessness,
my wont to act precipitously,
my people-pleasing ways,
my reluctance to confront and speak truth--
I accept these (and oh, so many, many more) as a favor from you and a means of your working your gracious will in my life; open doors for me to learn humility and dependence on you; reminders that you are far from done with me, and have not given up on me; and opportunities for you to show yourself strong in and through my weakness; for all of which I am grateful, in Jesus' name, amen.
God of Joyful Shouting
copyright Bob Hostetler
Lord, I praise you because you are
a God of joyful shouting,
a God of celebration,
a God who leaps and dances,
a God who sings,
a God who is (in Tozer's words) "having a good time!"
God, help me to know your joy, your zeal, your zestful nature. Put me in touch with your singing, dancing, shouting heart. Let me laugh with you today and enjoy what you enjoy. Restore to me the joy of your salvation...of your very nature, in Jesus' name, amen.
Lord, I praise you because you are
a God of joyful shouting,
a God of celebration,
a God who leaps and dances,
a God who sings,
a God who is (in Tozer's words) "having a good time!"
God, help me to know your joy, your zeal, your zestful nature. Put me in touch with your singing, dancing, shouting heart. Let me laugh with you today and enjoy what you enjoy. Restore to me the joy of your salvation...of your very nature, in Jesus' name, amen.
Worthy
copyright Bob Hostetler
You are worthy, Lord--
to receive power
and wealth
and wisdom
and strength
and honor
and glory
and praise.
Blessing and honor and glory and power are yours, Lord, the Lamb of God who sits upon the throne.
The conjunctions in those lists, Lord--"and...and...and"--emphasize to me that you are worthy of all, equally and completely. One is not your due more than another; there is no heirarchy or ranking of your worthiness, but you are worthy of it all, and I give it to you now, and desire to give it to you more fully and faithfully, in Jesus' name, amen.
You are worthy, Lord--
to receive power
and wealth
and wisdom
and strength
and honor
and glory
and praise.
Blessing and honor and glory and power are yours, Lord, the Lamb of God who sits upon the throne.
The conjunctions in those lists, Lord--"and...and...and"--emphasize to me that you are worthy of all, equally and completely. One is not your due more than another; there is no heirarchy or ranking of your worthiness, but you are worthy of it all, and I give it to you now, and desire to give it to you more fully and faithfully, in Jesus' name, amen.
Unchanging God
copyright Bob Hostetler
Father, you have been good. You have been oh, so faithful, to me.
I am changeful, you are constant.
My faith is fleeting and mercurial, you remain the same.
I fly to you and flee from you, yet you are always with me.
Thank you, in Jesus' name, amen.
Father, you have been good. You have been oh, so faithful, to me.
I am changeful, you are constant.
My faith is fleeting and mercurial, you remain the same.
I fly to you and flee from you, yet you are always with me.
Thank you, in Jesus' name, amen.
Prayer for Audacity
copyright Bob Hostetler
Abba, recent events, rebukes, and corrections that I believe have come to me from your hand, in your wisdom, may threaten to make me more timid in leadership. Please prevent that. Save me from pussyfootedness.
Give me instead the audacity that comes with knowing you are My Captain, My Great Warrior, My Dread Champion, in Jesus' name, amen.
Abba, recent events, rebukes, and corrections that I believe have come to me from your hand, in your wisdom, may threaten to make me more timid in leadership. Please prevent that. Save me from pussyfootedness.
Give me instead the audacity that comes with knowing you are My Captain, My Great Warrior, My Dread Champion, in Jesus' name, amen.
Fairest Lord Jesus
Bob Hostetler
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus, you're fairer, Jesus, you're purer,
You make the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
You, Lord, shine brighter, you shine far purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than you, my Savior, are to me.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus, you're fairer, Jesus, you're purer,
You make the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
You, Lord, shine brighter, you shine far purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than you, my Savior, are to me.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.
My Psalm 7
Bob Hostetler
I come to you for protection, O LORD my God.
Save me from my Persecutor—rescue me from the devil's traps.
If you don't, he will maul me like a lion,
tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
O LORD my God, if I have done wrong
or am guilty of injustice,
if I have betrayed a friend
or plundered even an enemy,
then I know I am in the Adversary's clutches;
he will trample me into the ground.
My honor will be left in the dust.
Arise, O LORD, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my Enemy!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
Gather the nations before you.
Sit on your throne high above them.
You, LORD, pass judgment on the nations.
Declare me righteous, O LORD,
Make me innocent in your sight, O Most High,
even if it means correcting me, rebuking me,
stopping me cold in my tracks and turning me around.
End the wickedness of the ungodly,
but help all those who obey you.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
O righteous God.
God, you are my shield;
you save those whose hearts are true and right.
(Make me one of them).
You are a judge who is perfectly fair.
(I know you will be fair--and merciful--with me).
You are angry with the wicked every day.
If a person does not repent,
you will sharpen your sword;
you will bend and string your bow.
You will prepare your deadly weapons
and ignite your flaming arrows.
So I repent. I repent. I repent.
Show me any and all wickedness in me,
and create in me a clean heart.
The wicked conceive evil;
they are pregnant with trouble
and give birth to lies.
They dig a pit to trap others
and then fall into it themselves.
They make trouble,
but it backfires on them.
They plan violence for others,
but it falls on their own heads.
Save me from intrigue, Lord;
deliver me from anything that smacks of double-mindedness.
I will thank you, LORD, because you are just;
I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
I come to you for protection, O LORD my God.
Save me from my Persecutor—rescue me from the devil's traps.
If you don't, he will maul me like a lion,
tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
O LORD my God, if I have done wrong
or am guilty of injustice,
if I have betrayed a friend
or plundered even an enemy,
then I know I am in the Adversary's clutches;
he will trample me into the ground.
My honor will be left in the dust.
Arise, O LORD, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my Enemy!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
Gather the nations before you.
Sit on your throne high above them.
You, LORD, pass judgment on the nations.
Declare me righteous, O LORD,
Make me innocent in your sight, O Most High,
even if it means correcting me, rebuking me,
stopping me cold in my tracks and turning me around.
End the wickedness of the ungodly,
but help all those who obey you.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
O righteous God.
God, you are my shield;
you save those whose hearts are true and right.
(Make me one of them).
You are a judge who is perfectly fair.
(I know you will be fair--and merciful--with me).
You are angry with the wicked every day.
If a person does not repent,
you will sharpen your sword;
you will bend and string your bow.
You will prepare your deadly weapons
and ignite your flaming arrows.
So I repent. I repent. I repent.
Show me any and all wickedness in me,
and create in me a clean heart.
The wicked conceive evil;
they are pregnant with trouble
and give birth to lies.
They dig a pit to trap others
and then fall into it themselves.
They make trouble,
but it backfires on them.
They plan violence for others,
but it falls on their own heads.
Save me from intrigue, Lord;
deliver me from anything that smacks of double-mindedness.
I will thank you, LORD, because you are just;
I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
God, You Are Good
copyright Bob Hostetler
God, you are good.
Recent days have been a slog.
My back has been bowed,
my mind a fog,
my heart leaden.
But you have come to me again, Lord.
You met me in prayer.
You sang to me,
relieved my cares,
and lifted me up.
God, you are good.
My eyes have been on all the wrong things:
people, circumstances, obstacles, problems.
You turned my head
and trained my eyes on you once more.
Thank you, God. You are good.
God, you are good.
Recent days have been a slog.
My back has been bowed,
my mind a fog,
my heart leaden.
But you have come to me again, Lord.
You met me in prayer.
You sang to me,
relieved my cares,
and lifted me up.
God, you are good.
My eyes have been on all the wrong things:
people, circumstances, obstacles, problems.
You turned my head
and trained my eyes on you once more.
Thank you, God. You are good.
Arise
copyright Bob Hostetler
Arise, Lord, let your enemy be scattered and routed by the worshipful obedience of your people and the repentant response of the seeking, in Jesus' name, amen.
Arise, Lord, let your enemy be scattered and routed by the worshipful obedience of your people and the repentant response of the seeking, in Jesus' name, amen.
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